Medications Used to Treat Dementia
Anti-dementia
Donepezil: start with 5 mg/day; increase to 10 mg after three weeks
Side effects: nausea; diarrhea
Tacrine: start with 10 mg four times a day, slowly building up to 40 mg four times a day
Side effects: nausea; diarrhea; may be toxic to the liver
Antidepressants
Nefazodone: start with 100 – 400 mg/day in two divided doses
Side effects: headache; sedation; nausea; dry mouth
Nortriptyline: 25 – 75 mg/day. Be sure to have doctor check the patient’s blood plasma levels.
Side effects: sedation; hindrance to the parasympathetic nervous system (which controls actions like pupil dilation and heart rate); rigid movement
Paroxetine: start with 10 – 40 mg/day
Side effects: insomnia; nausea; anxiety
Sertraline: 50 – 200 mg/day
Side effects: insomnia; diarrhea; tremor
Trazodone: 50 – 250 mg at night
Side effects: sedation; mild rigidity
Antipsychotics 
Haloperidol: 0.25 – 2 mg/day. Gradually increase this dose
Side effects: Parkinson disease symptoms; feeling sedated; falling; problems with physical movement
Perphenazine: 2 – 12 mg/day in two to three doses
Side effects same as those with Haloperidol
Risperidone: 0.5 – 2 mg/day in two doses
Side effects: sedation; Parkinson’s symptoms
Stroke Prevention
Aspirin: 325 mg every day Side effects: excessive bleeding; stomach irritation
Ticlopidine: 250 mg twice a day. Blood tests required every two weeks for six weeks
Side effects: May cause a decrease in the number of neutrophils – a type of immune cell – in blood
Miscellaneous
Buspirone: 10 – 60 mg/day in divided doses
Side effects: dizziness; nausea; headache
Divalproex sodium: 125 – 750 mg/day in three divided doses
Side effects: nausea; sedation; liver toxicity (though rare)
Lorazepam: 0.5 – 2 mg every day in divided doses. Use only for mild dementia
Side effects: confusion; sedation; uninhibited behavior; problems with movement; anxiety if taking the drug is stopped
Propranolol: doses of 100 – 500 mg/day
Side effects: slowed heart beat (less than 60 beats/minute); low blood pressure
Zolpidem: 5 mg at night.
Side effects: daytime drowsiness; dizziness; headache
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